andromeda
Quote:
I don't mean to come off like an @$$, but the deadlines were released in July...if (potential) business students can't hit deadlines with that much lead time then there is a problem (there may be computer issues, but submitting a couple days early is always an option). These are only applications...so when you become a student are you going to do everything in your power to meet tighter time constraints on projects? Personally, I don't think I would want to be partners with people who can't submit an application in on time. It's not that difficult. There is a deadline. You either hit it or you don't.
I have to agree with you. Duke will evaluate all applications, regardless of the time they got in (few hours up or down doesn't make a difference). I bet the stress of you being late is also reflected in less than perfect essays and missed fields on 10 pages long application.
Well, considering I'm the one who first brought the deadline up, I figure I might add a few words.
One. Some deadlines are slightly ambiguous because 5:00pm is relative, not absolute, and some websites do a poor job of making that clear.
Two. All my essays were done in plenty of time. My problem was my transcript. I went to kinko's to scan my transcript where I quickly learned that the 500kb maximum file size would be difficult to hit and still be legible. I called the admissions office (3:30pm) worried about it and they informed me if I needed to scan it again, I still had plenty of time since I could actually submit until midnight. After playing with it some more, I finally remembered how to decrease the file size w/o hurting the legibility (6:30pm).
Honestly, I don't understand why Duke insists on having
scanned copies of your official transcripts. I could have just as easily manipulated the scan as I could have manipulated an unofficial copy. Further, they require official copies to be sent upon granted admission regardless. Other schools allow unofficial/self-reported transcripts such as Columbia/Wharton, why can't they do the same? Of all the schools I've applied to, Duke is the only one that requires this, which to me makes their application slightly unconventional. As a result, I don't think anyone should be getting mad that I needed to use an extra hour or so to deal with technical difficulties that are unique to their application.
Three. Increased/decreased competition is a two-edged sword. If you get in, you obviously want to have the most competitive classmates surrounding you because your degree is only as good as the brand it represents, and so it's not such a bad thing that people were a little over the 5pm deadline. Conversely, I understand that there are those who are worried that they may be "on the bubble" relative to average statistics, and that these applications may further decrease your chances. Just think about that if you are accepted.
Four. Not everyone knows which schools they to plan to apply to in June, July, August, September, October, November, or in my case even December. As a result, I didn't start the Duke App until after Christmas - should I be penalized for that? I think people need to extract the "holyier than now" attitude from these forums. Things happen - and not everyone described their circumstances on a message board. Perhaps it might be better to not judge and keep a positive attitude.